Today's update: I started ballasting some of the mainline. I decided on all purpose gravel from home depot, but sifted out the bigger stone pieces before. It's not to scale but I really like the blue tone and the rough shape of the stones helps it all bind together and hold the track in place nicely. I may sprinkle on some sand and wash it in to help it bind even better.
John
Haha not to worry. We love our koi here. The neighbor told us that some of them are approximately 30 years old! I'm not surprised since they're huge.... I think a few are about 2 feet long. Two previous families took good care of them so we'll keep that streak going
Thank you everyone. Luckily I planned ahead for the bridge and built it so it could be easily removed. All the staining and polyurethaning were done away from the pond. The later was applied at 3pm earlier today so by tomorrow afternoon ill feel safe placing it back over the pond. I may even spray it down with a hose before to ensure any residue washes off into the lawn and not later into the pond.
Thanks!
John,
I echo the others. Great and fast work! You'll note there are a lot of "how do I get started threads" out there, and it is great to see someone else take the plunge! It also motivates a certain someone to make progress on a certain sugar mill...
As you go forward, remember your koi will not like at all if that stain drips into the pond. In sufficient quantites, it will be lethal. If you have not installed your bridge yet, you will want to stain it before you do. We are fish people with eight aquariums and a little pond, so I felt a need to speak up for the finned fellows!
Have a great week!
Eric
Nice work! Thanks for the pictures.
York1 John
as always: you're doing a fantastic job! Also, great to see trains running. I think I have worn out my welcome at Shutterfly: too much share, not enough buy. Will look for a new site when I have something to show.
Keep up great work !
Paul
Over the past few days I've been working on staining the wood platform and bridge. I was having a lot of trouble getting an even coat on the balsa planks so I adapted and went for a weathered look. Just waiting for the poly to dry on the bridge and then that part of the project will be complete.
Thanks buddy! We were very lucky to have the existing landscape. I decided not to rip out all the "weeds" for that reason. In the spring my wife and I will plant lots of perrenials and maybe I'll keep some of the weeds to give it that grown-in look. More progress to come once the weather holds up.
Have a great day!
Thanks for the advice. I'll give that a try shortly... hopefully my lack of tech skills won't get in the way. For the time being, here's a few photos of the railway in action:
Good morning guys! Lots of progress in Koi Harbor over the past few days. I have about 75% of the roadbed tamped down and leveled out. I was able to temporarily set up the full loop of track using bricks and wood to prop it up. The 2063 LGB locomotive pulled two cars (one with pumpkins and a candle) up the steep grades on the unfinished section without a problem. I'd like to post a few videos of the progress and train running. Does anyone know how to post videos on here? I can't find any instructions and shutterfly doesn't seem to allow video uploads.
Thanks,
BLT_BY_LIONEL I guess the great thing about this hobby is that there will always be something to do (adding on, maintenance, etc).
I guess the great thing about this hobby is that there will always be something to do (adding on, maintenance, etc).
It took me about a year to find that out! I had to get trains running reliably before I noticed I needed a mountain, some buildings, another mountain, more plants etc! The downside, of course, is that developing the skills to build and maintain the Triple O meant that suddenly I was expected to apply them to household repairs! I joke that we've save at least as much on repair bills as we've spent on the railroad, so it's a wash.
Oh, and first train has to have a video, or it didn't happen!
Good morning guys,
I like the scientific approach description but lets just say it's not an exact science haha. I'm no carpenter but luckily construction on this scale is a lot more forgiving. My vision of the elevated section is just that... the plants under the platform will hopefully grow around it and give it that hillside look.
As far as a first run estimate, Im waiting on my last shipment of track to arrive this week and then I can finish the last leg of the loop (hopefully). I'm guessing I'll have a train running within the next week or two. Then I can start working on staining and other details. I guess the great thing about this hobby is that there will always be something to do (adding on, maintenance, etc).
I really like your approach to crossing that low area. I would've done something boring like built a retaining wall and filled it in! You are going to have lots of flexibility in how you choose to interpret that piece of track. Low plants and a dry stream bed will make it a bridge. Bushy foreground plants will hide the bridgework and give the illusion of a sweeping curve on the crest of a hill!
When are you taking bets on "First Run Day?"
You're doing a fantastic job! I had to cut something similar for my 180 degree curve of R2 on the cog line. I made one piece with the correct angles, and used it as a template, and just duplicated it many times. You have a more scientific approach! Looking great!
Thanks guys! Since my last post, I started building the elevated track platform that will follow the pond just above the rock/ivy covered pond border. First I used a t-bevel to mark the angle I needed to cut to make a circle of platform sections that would match the radius of the curved sections. After that was done, I hammered in 18" metal stakes and bracketed wood posts to the stake. Fianlly, the platform was fastened to the wood posts and will be weather proofed like the bridge.
Beautiful! I wish I had that pond!
Looks like you might get to run a train soon!
This is great!
Paul, I would have been in heaven as a kid if my parents had a garden railway so I'm sure when that time comes we'll definitely enjoy it.
Progress update:
The bridge is completed and temporarily in place before staining (busy with work and good weather this week so I'll leave it out there). The fish don't seem to be alarmed by it and the Mrs gave the thumbs up.
That's a really FUN idea! You have an option later to involve children, when that day arrives. Cherish those moments!
At one time, my daughter and I were enjoying gardening together in the backyard railroad. Then, she became too busy with school, then off to college.
When she finds a free moment, we still paint together on the Swiss Alps mural, which is fun.But she usually has a full social calendar....
Thanks! Ugh... to be able to pay $2 a foot for track! I thought about used track but the prices were not much different from new on ebay. I would do the same thing in your shoes. My track looks like it could last for decades if kept clean.
On a side note: we decided on a new name for our railroad that would fit the scenery...
The Koi Harbor Garden Railway (KHGR). Its going to be a fictional branch line somewhere in the mountain west area that serves the Village of Koi Harbor. There will be two stations, at least two sidings for industry and im trying to find a dump car to eventually find a way to dump koi food into the pond.
John, looking fantastic!
it's great starting fresh with new track, should be fun to operate!
Me, on the other hand..... I'm using primarily recycled track from my previous railroad.Only the cog branch is about 75% new track.
Because, my old track avearaged about 2.00 a foot back in the day.
And never one to throw away a nickel....
That trackwork looks WAY better! Get a really good penetrating stain for the bridge. I use a very good deck sealer, something that is designed to protect wood from direct sun and weather. It's more expensive than the junk you get from Home Despot or Low-down Lowes, but a few extra bucks is worth it. Often you can buy these premium penetrating stains from wood supply places that sell premium wood decking.
Greg
Visit my site: http://www.elmassian.com - lots of tips on locos, rolling stock and more.
Click here for Greg's web site
BLT_BY_LIONEL The Mrs. really likes the look of the bridge and wants to stain it to match another wood piece we have in the garden near by... so that settles that decission
The Mrs. really likes the look of the bridge and wants to stain it to match another wood piece we have in the garden near by... so that settles that decission
Wiser words were rarely spoken! I, too, bow to the suggestions of Commander in Chief House (CINCHOUSE)!
I envy your saw skills, and I applaud your decision to have a good enough bridge now to get things up and running. I've had a couple projects die of "analysis paralyis!"
I take my wooden buildings inside, I don't leave them out. If you seal your bridge, and take it in when the weather is rough, you should be O.K. for now. So, enjoy the railroad! Off to an excellent start!
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